Vol. 472 No. 7
93 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for the Environment if his attention has been drawn to the terms of the document entitled "Wise Use and Conservation of Wetlands", the EU Commission communication COMDOC(95) 189 final, as endorsed by the Council of Ministers on 4 March 1996; if so, his views on this document; and if he has informed local authorities of Government and EU policies requiring them to comply with these terms. [24135/96]
This communication is designed as a first step in establishing a strategic framework at EU level for the wise use of wetlands and the conservation of their functions and assets. In this regard, the communication seeks to advance the objectives of the Union's Fifth Environment Action Programme, Towards Sustainability, as they relate to protection of nature and biodiversity and management of water resources, and to deploy existing EU legislation in this area, in particular, directives on the conservation of wild birds, natural habitats and wild fauna and flora. A key objective of the communication is to encourage a co-ordinated and integrated approach at all levels of administration and between all relevant sectors so as to cater more fully for wetlands.
I welcomed the communication when it was debated on 4 March 1996 and supported Council's conclusions emphasising the need, inter alia, to take wetlands into account when drawing up strategies for the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity. A national strategy for biodiversity is being prepared by the Department of Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht following ratification by Ireland of the Convention on Biodiversity earlier this year. This strategy will have implications for local authorities in relation to their physical planning and environmental functions and these aspects will be pursued with them when the strategy is published.
In the meantime, local authorities have extensive environmental and planning controls at their disposal to ensure that appropriate action can be taken to address potential sources of pollution or inappropriate development that could affect the quality of water required to sustain wetlands.
